RESUMEN
The emergency practitioner has a wide array of procedures in his armamentarium for the diagnosis of pulmonary dysfunction. The combination of blood gas analysis, spirometry, peak expiratory measurements, and trans-tissue monitors, coupled with clinical and radiographic findings, can offer a concise picture of pulmonary status. Further emergency medicine research in these areas will provide exciting methods of assessing and monitoring treatment responses for patients with pulmonary dysfunction.
Asunto(s)
Urgencias Médicas , Hipoxia/diagnóstico , Análisis de los Gases de la Sangre , Humanos , Hipoxia/etiología , Hipoxia/terapia , Intercambio Gaseoso Pulmonar , EspirometríaRESUMEN
Dystonic extrapyramidal reactions due to neuroleptic medications are a common entity in emergency medicine. However, it is not widely reported that dystonia can be associated with airway compromise and death. We describe a case of upper airway obstruction due to a dystonic reaction to haloperidol, present radiographic evidence of airway compromise, and explain the physiologic mechanisms involved.
Asunto(s)
Obstrucción de las Vías Aéreas/diagnóstico , Distonía/diagnóstico , Adulto , Antipsicóticos/efectos adversos , Diagnóstico Diferencial , Difenhidramina/uso terapéutico , Distonía/inducido químicamente , Femenino , Haloperidol/efectos adversos , HumanosRESUMEN
A case of blunt pelvic trauma with injury to the urethra in a female is reported. Although uncommon, this type of injury is by no means as rare as previously thought. If the morbidity associated with delayed diagnosis is to be avoided, urethral injury should be a consideration in any case of major pelvic trauma in females.
Asunto(s)
Pelvis/lesiones , Uretra/lesiones , Heridas no Penetrantes , Adulto , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Radiografía , Heridas no Penetrantes/diagnóstico por imagenRESUMEN
Asthma, a disease of reversible airway hyperactivity, is responsible for 6.5 million visits to ambulatory care offices each year. In spite of treatment advances, asthma-related deaths have increased 31% from 1980 to 1987. The severity of asthma is often determined solely by history and physical examination, which can result in either overestimation or underestimation of disease severity. To optimize management, objective quantitative criteria should be added to the diagnostic evaluation. The use of peak flow meters provides physicians with easily obtainable objective measurements to augment their diagnostic armamentarium in the treatment of asthma.
Asunto(s)
Atención Ambulatoria , Asma/diagnóstico , Asma/fisiopatología , Asma/terapia , Humanos , Oximetría , Valor Predictivo de las Pruebas , Pruebas de Función Respiratoria , Índice de Severidad de la EnfermedadRESUMEN
Wounds caused by firearms are a frequent occurrence in urban emergency centers. Understanding of the underlying pathophysiologic mechanisms involved in wound production is very important in treatment of these injuries. Part I of this article reports studies on the interaction of projectiles with both the atmosphere and human tissue to produce wounds. Part II will examine the types of wounds formed by specific firearms, and the recent innovations in both weapons and ammunition which are altering the severity of shooting injuries.